SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazilian police said Wednesday they are seeking to arrest the CEO of a beer maker who is accused of paying kickbacks to politicians disguised as donations.
Federal police said Grupo Petropolis chief Walter Faria had not been found, but three other suspects had been arrested so far.
Prosecutors say the brewery laundered the equivalent to $87 million between 2006 and 2014 on the behalf of construction company Odebrecht.
The case is part of the sprawling “Car Wash” corruption probe that has ensnared top politicians and businessmen over the last few years.
Grupo Petropolis is the maker of beer Itaipava, one of the most popular in Brazil.
The brewing company has seven plants in five Brazilian states. It has the naming rights of 2014 World Cup stadiums in Salvador and Recife.
The probe kicked off with the plea bargain testimony of a business executive who linked Grupo Petropolis to irregular Odebrecht political campaign donations.
“The investigations show Grupo Petropolis operated as a virtual kickbacks bank for Odebrecht,” prosecutor Felipe Camargo said.
Prosecutors say Odebrecht hid irregular transactions by sponsoring the renovation of plants and purchase of new equipment for Grupo Petropolis.
Grupo Petropolis said in a statement that it is “available for authorities to clarify the facts.”
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